Shrinking Violet

Latest posts by Shrinking Violet

I was impressed that the team sang the National Anthem - with gusto! Perhaps the English football team could learn a lesson or two from the women's hockey team - oh, and learn how to keep your cool when it comes to a penalty shoot out!

I was going to be cool, collected and selective with the Olympics. But I admit it - I'm hooked. Every stroke in the pool, smash with a racquet, lunge, parry and whatnot has been mesmerising. Bronze for the women's hammer today - now who'd have predicted that?

I'm also impressed with the way in which all of our sportsmen and women have been proud of their achievements when interviewed, but not triumphant: modest in a good way. And no unnecessary self-deprecation, either. They also all give full acknowledgement to all the support and backing they have had that has enabled them to shine.

I'm proud of Team GB (but I'd rather have some sleep - late night nail-biting with Andy Murray was torture!)

Raspberry vinegar is very good (I'm searching for my recipe, but there are loads on line). It can be diluted with soda water and ice for a refreshing drink. It can be drizzled over desserts. If you reduce it slightly it can be used instead of balsamic vinegar. It can also be used in a vinaigrette dressing, which gives an unusual kick to salads.

A dessertspoonful in a small cup of warm water makes a soothing drink for sore throats, too.

I also have made raspberry jelly (kids who don't like pips enjoy this), and the berries can be mixed with any other soft fruit to hand and made into Jumbleberry Jam.

As Dove has said, the fruit freezes beautifully (I still have some In my freezer from last year), both as the individual berries or pureed with a little icing sugar to make a coulis (instant sauce for ice-cream).

Raspberry curd would be interesting - though I haven't made it. Apple and cinnamon curd is delicious, and I see no reason why raspberry curd (perhaps with a dash if kirsch?) wouldn't work well. Be inventive!

I inherited a lot of seedlings which looked exactly like your picture. Never one to throw anything away in haste, I allowed the plants to mature: they are, indeed, Welsh poppies.

Not my favourite plant, but at least once the leaves are identified and identifiable, they can be left in situ if there's a gap, of simply removed if you really don't want them. But dead-heading is a must - or there will be more (and more, and more ...) plants to deal with!

I always use canes. I;ve tried the twine thing in the past, but with mixed success.

So - garden cane next to the plant. Then horizontal cane to link several together at or near the top - and if you were a Scout, you'd find the square lashing involved a doddle! It helps to stabilise the uprights, although you may want to strengthen them further with additional supports (depends on the size of GH - Monty did this technique a while back - but his GH is about as big as my garden )

We had a Medieval Fayre (I just hate that faux spelling!) in the town on Saturday, and there was a lass selling things like sloe gin, raspberry vodka etc. And she had blackcurrant rum!

Now, I've not tried this yet (as in making - not tasting) so I don't know how it will work. But going on the same principle as Sloe Gin, and a bit of a - hic - experiment or three, I shall give it a go with some of the blackcurrants I still have (left over from last year) in the freezer.

I would resist the temptation of any sort of confrontation - as has been pointed out upthread, if and when you decide to sell, you are obliged to note any sort of neighbour disputes. Mum's the word!

You describe the fence as being 4ft high, and by implication, it is not your fence. There's nothing to stop you, however, from erecting trellis 6ft high your side of the boundary (not attached to the fence), and growing a fast-growing climber (though not a Russian vine, I beg you!). Something like Clematis Montana would do the trick. In one fell swoop, you prevent the selfish devil from leaning over and you will have an attractive plant - or plants, actually, since he would be prevented from attacking your pyracantha as well.

If the fence is yours, you could attach 2ft of trellis on top and plant as suggested.